It is interesting to see how CPAP is used and covered by insurance in different countries. In my country, South Korea, CPAP is available for rent if you have certain medical conditions, and the rental price is fixed. I pay 15 USD (20K KRW), and the Korea NHS pays 60 USD (80K KRW) per month. I've been using Löwenstein's CPAP, and it works great without any problems.
How to Replace Your CPAP in Only 666 Days
81–90 of 273 posts
Re: How to Replace Your CPAP in Only 666 Days
#82Earlier quoted context omitted.
I learned recently that you want a fixer that knows and bribes people where it's customary and expected. Going through lengthy processes deaf to the trigger phrases will make your life, which could be incredibly easy, unbearably hard in many countries.
It is worth pointing out that (at least according to the corporate training I have to take every year) this is considered illegal by the US government for a US citizen to do even not on US soil; if the Feds get wind of it and feel like making a point they could throw you in jail, even with an intermediary "fixer".
That's why these services are usually provided by "expat services agencies" that do these things intransparently to your knowledge.
Re: How to Replace Your CPAP in Only 666 Days
#83But we can’t have public health insurance because the lines will be too long.
Re: How to Replace Your CPAP in Only 666 Days
#84Are there any studies estimating the cost of this kafakasque nightmare? End of the day users pay for this via higher premiums. I am sure doctor's offices also face something similar.
Clearly it leads to lower premiums (or higher profits) because many claims are abandoned.
Re: How to Replace Your CPAP in Only 666 Days
#85Earlier quoted context omitted.
Though it’d probably take 666 days to see a sleep specialist and get your first CPAP machine… (which I suspect you’d agree is part of the stealth dissolution plan)
I have terrible news about systems built on private health insurance (USA): it will still take 666 days to see a specialist, and you will need a referral from your PCP who may also decide they want to see you in person first. This may be its own scheduling nightmare. Then you may find out that your preferred specialist is out of network for your private insurance. The waits are a generally a supply and demand issue m…
I've never had to wait more than a month to see a specialist in the US
Re: How to Replace Your CPAP in Only 666 Days
#86Earlier quoted context omitted.
I recently read the book "Gaming Behind the Iron Curtain." It's about the former Soviet satellite states trying to play video games inside the Czech Republicb in the late 80s. They had to smuggle in computers hidden inside suitcases from England. This feels almost like the same thing. I'm stuck in thinking that someone smart could break apart these CPAP machines and bring in necessary parts, then find other parts fro…
Sounds like the zx spectrum was almost built perfectly for that.
Russians have a significant presence on the ZX Spectrum game and demo scene. There may be something to this.
Re: How to Replace Your CPAP in Only 666 Days
#87Have been trying to replace my (recalled) machine for about a year, now, myself.
Asinine.
Re: How to Replace Your CPAP in Only 666 Days
#88Earlier quoted context omitted.
Bingo! As someone with multiple "pre-existing conditions" who cares for a stroke survivor (my wife) and a stage 4 chronic kidney disease patient (my mother-in-law,) I suggest we do the following: 1. make private health insurance illegal 2. pass a Constitutional amendment allowing every human the unlimited and absolute right to buy, make, modify, and sell medical things including importing and exporting those items. I…
>pass a Constitutional amendment allowing every human the unlimited and absolute right to buy, make, modify, and sell medical things including importing and exporting those items. I'm pretty sure I've never heard of a worse idea for a law. Removing any possibility of regulating the quality or efficacy of medicines and medical devices will injure and kill far more people than any resulting improved access would help.
Funnily enough, we have a constitutional amendment guaranteeing the right to own machines that are designed with the singular purpose of killing people. How could a “medical device second amendment” be worse?
Re: How to Replace Your CPAP in Only 666 Days
#89Earlier quoted context omitted.
I learned recently that you want a fixer that knows and bribes people where it's customary and expected. Going through lengthy processes deaf to the trigger phrases will make your life, which could be incredibly easy, unbearably hard in many countries.
Honestly I don't think most people need a "fixer" - just any local friend. Either they will know the expected bribe amount or they can figure it out. Also you might be able to get them to do stuff for you where all of the sudden the bribe is 1/10 the amount because they are local. Maybe if you are doing more serious stuff like business or real estate it makes sense.
In specific countries, like Brazil, “fixer” is a real job (it’s called “despachante” there) and it’s supposedly someone that knows the bureaucracy and how to navigate it.
Most of the time when you need to deal with a government agency you’d go through one of them. They don’t advertise that they’ll bribe people to get it done but that’s how it works.
Re: How to Replace Your CPAP in Only 666 Days
#90Earlier quoted context omitted.
I have terrible news about systems built on private health insurance (USA): it will still take 666 days to see a specialist, and you will need a referral from your PCP who may also decide they want to see you in person first. This may be its own scheduling nightmare. Then you may find out that your preferred specialist is out of network for your private insurance. The waits are a generally a supply and demand issue m…
I've never had to wait more than a month to see a specialist in the US
LOLOLOL
that is not typical